Treadmill Safety in the Wake of a Tragic Death

I was recently invited to speak about treadmill safety on WUSA News after the tragic death of Mike Tyson's 4 year-old daughter. This accident serves as a reminder that childproofing your home goes well beyond the toddler years. If you have exercise equipment and small children in your home, please keep these safety tips in mind:

• If possible, keep exercise equipment in an “out of bounds” area or use a gate to block access.


• Keep the treadmill unplugged when not in use.


• Tie up any cords, including the emergency cord to prevent strangulation.


• Secure power cords and keep out of reach.


• Never let your child play on a treadmill. Your child could mistakenly see the equipment as his play toy.


• It best that you avoid using your treadmill and all exercise equipment in front of your child. Children like to imitate older children and adults and can quickly learn from them.


• Always remember that children are naturally curious and require adult supervision at all times.

Watch the WUSA News Treadmill Safety Story